Shiraishi appears gentle and easy to talk to, but his true character is decisive and never hesitates to do things on the next day.
After filling his stomach and finding out the location of the Tsunayashiro family's residence, he directly used the Steel Tempest " technique to go there.
After searching and stopping for half an hour, Shiraishi successfully arrived at the outskirts of the Tsunayashiro Clan's residence.
Looking down from this vantage point, the overall layout of the base comes into view.
Contrary to his expectations of a large mansion, the settlement was more like a circular city surrounded by wheat fields, covering an area of approximately 84 square kilometers.
Such a large area could not possibly be inhabited only by the members of the Tsunayashiro family, the retainers who served the branch family, and the farmers who cultivated the wheat fields.
The way to distinguish them is simple: just look at the houses. From the thatched huts on the outside to the tiled houses and exquisite pavilions and towers inside, it is easy to understand the power structure here.
At this moment, the lights in the center of the camp were like stars, while no houses on the periphery were lit, relying entirely on the light of the stars and moon for illumination.
Even though the moonlight was beautiful, the surrounding area was quiet, and the farmers did not have the leisure of noble lords.
Every night, they basically sleep soundly until dawn, then get up to start their day's farm work. There's no such thing as a nightlife.
Shiraishi's gaze swept across the outer perimeter and moved to the very center, where a six-story building stood.
The roof is covered with luxurious golden tiles, and each floor is brightly lit, seemingly telling people how noble the owner's status is.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the head of the branch family should reside there.
According to information provided by Kūkaku Shiba, Takehiko Tsunayashiro is not the head of the branch family, but rather the father of the branch family head.
Because he attempted to use forbidden techniques to seek the power of the void in his early years, he was stripped of his position as the head of the branch family and imprisoned in the Maggot's Nest.
Even if the current head of the family rescues him, his past as a criminal prevents him from continuing as the head of the branch family; his son will have to succeed him.
However, the actual power to divide the family still rests with Takehiko Tsunayashiro.
In that case, the person living on the sixth floor is very likely Takehiko Tsunayashiro.
Shiraishi decided to go check it out first. He leaped over the cliff and used the Steel Tempest, his figure transforming into a gust of wind as he flew downwards.
Upon landing, he lightly touched the ground with his toes, then leaped over the three-meter-high wall. Instead of speeding across the rooftops, he ran along the shadows cast by the eaves.
Its main purpose was to prevent the guard towers built in the tiled area from having a line of sight.
He quickly passed through the thatched-roof area and approached the tiled-roof area, where the defenses were not as lax as on the outside.
His expanded Spiritual Sense allowed him to pinpoint the location of spirits with Spiritual Power, and the patrol routes of the guards automatically appeared in his mind.
The fun was greatly diminished.
Shiraishi thought to himself that once he activated his Spiritual Sense, the stimulating feeling disappeared, as if he were exploring a map and launching a dimensional attack.
But considering he wasn't playing a game, he felt caution was necessary; boredom was better than unexpected surprises.
Shiraishi scaled the wall between the thatched and tiled areas, avoiding the watchtower's gaze, and continued speeding forward along the shadows under the eaves.
Click.
What was that sound?
He paused, looked down at the ground beneath his feet, and a flash of blue light shot upwards, condensing into a square frame that emitted a strong blue light that anyone who wasn't blind could see.
Reishi trap?
He looked somewhat surprised, as this was the first time he had ever seen Reishi trap. He tried to lift his foot to leave, but the floor seemed to turn into super glue, sticking his sneakers firmly to it.
"Clang, clang!" "A thief has broken into the upper area! Repeat, a thief has broken into the upper area!"
The resounding bells echoed over the encampment. Shiraishi's Spiritual Sense detected that the guards were rushing in from all directions at great speed.
All high-ranking nobles possess their own armed forces, not to mention the Tsunayashiro family, a major noble family, which secretly trains a large number of assassins and guards, and many of them are even qualified to serve as Seated Officer in the Gotei 13.
The difference between them and Shinigami is that they don't have Zanpakuto), they can only use the techniques of Zankensoki), and they are extremely loyal to the Tsunayashiro Clan.
" Hadō #31, Shakkahō!" " Hadō #33, Sōkatsui Drop!"
From the watchtower a hundred meters away, the guard skilled in Kidō abandoned his incantation and unleashed a blast aimed at the area below the blue square.
Red and blue light attacked from both sides.
"This isn't fire at all," Shiraishi retorted. The Shakkahō and Sōkatsui were clearly more like light wave attacks, not fire-based ones.
Despite his words, he still didn't have the habit of directly taking enemy skills. He stomped his foot hard, and the powerful Reiatsu shattered the surrounding floor, then used Steel Tempest forward.
As long as he escapes this place, the fact that his Reiatsu won't be released outwards will allow him to hide again.
Bang.
He hadn't run far when Shiraishi bumped into an invisible barrier. His nose stung, and he took a step back. The air seemed to freeze, becoming heavy and slowing his movements.
Is this Kidō barrier?
Shiraishi looked around Spiritual Sense that there were four people standing still in different positions, who were probably the ones maintaining the Kidō barrier.
Judging from Reiatsu, he is slightly weaker than the Fifth Seat of the Stealth Force, but stronger than the group from the Outer Rukongai.
Several figures, unaffected by the barrier's slowing effect, darted in like ghosts.
These are all minor characters.
One cut, one kill.
Shiraishi didn't care. He killed all these people and continued to hide. In effect, he hadn't been exposed and his stealth was still perfect.
Just then, the central main building unleashed a massive Reiatsu no less than that of Captain-level.
It instantly caught Shiraishi's attention.
Small fry are nothing to worry about, but with a Captain-level expert added, it's a different story.
"Beast bones scattered everywhere! Wheels of crimson steel from the spire. The wind moves, the sky stands still. The sound of clashing spears echoes throughout the void city! Hadō #63: Raikōhō: Raikōhō!"
Overpowering the starlight and moonlight, a dazzling golden flash of lightning erupted from the distance, instantly engulfing his entire vision like a flood bursting its banks.
Shiraishi dared not be careless and swung his sword forward.
Whoosh! An invisible gale rose from the ground, forming a wide Wind Wall.
The Lightning Flash struck the Wind Wall, like water slowly flowing into a river, causing no reaction and disappearing silently.
With a single Steel Tempest of Shiraishi -Slicing Flash, Shiraishi moved with his blade, piercing the outermost guard's waist before brushing past him and slapping him away, without lingering or continuing his advance.
His main objective was to spy, not to directly eliminate the entire Tsunayashiro family.
He didn't want to cause such a big commotion until he figured out the relationship between Takehiko Tsunayashiro and Aizen.
Let's leave from here first, remove the conspicuous box above our heads, and then figure out a way to sneak back in.
"Quick, after him! Don't let the thief get away!" "Stop him!" Bakudō #30: Shitotsu Sansen!
The noise gradually moved away from the central area and towards the periphery.
In the hallway, Takehiko Tsunayashiro gripped the railing, watching Shiraishi leave. "The actors aren't all here yet, no need to rush."